Electro-magnetic motor



(No Model.) G LITTLE 2 Sheets-Sneet l.

ELEGTRO MAGNETIC MOTOR.

No. 259,404. Patented June 13, 1882.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. LITTLE.

ELEGTRO MAGNETIC MOTOR.

No. 259,404. Patented June 13, 1882.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE LITTLE, QF PASSAIG, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRO-MAGNETIC MOTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 259,404, dated June 13, 1882.

(N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I GEORGE LITTLE, of Passaic, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented an Improvement in Electro-Magnetic Motors, of which the followin g is a specification.

It is well known that magnetic attraction is the most efficient where the armature isin close contact with the magnet-poles, and that the force of the magnetism is very much weakened by interruptingthe actual contact of the metallic surfaces.

In magnetic engines as ordinarily constructed the actual contact of afree moving armature with the'poles would defeat the objects for which the machine was constructed by causing the armature to adhere.

In my improvement I avail of a rolling motion given to the armature, whereby the metallic surfaces of the poles are brought into actual contact for obtaining the maxim um magnetic force, and the magnetism is neutralized or partially or entirely reversed as the rolling armature passes the place of greatest magnetic action, so as to prevent any sticking of the armature to the pole, and to avail of the passive state of the poles as the armature rolls off them.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of arevolving magnet with rotating armaturerollers. Fig. 2 is a separate view of the circuit-changer. Fig. 8 is a section-of the magnet and armature. Fig. 4 is a detached section of one of the magnet-heads. Fig. 5 is a side elevation ofa magnetic engine in which the magnets are stationary and the armatures roll around them and the continuous non-magnetic bearing rings or guides. Fig. 6 is an end view of the circuit-changers adapted to the machine shown in Fig. 5, and Fig. 7 is a diagram of the circuit-connections.

The magnet is composed of two heads upon a metal tube, with a helix wound in between the heads, and each head is divided up into pole-faces that are either a single or a double V shape. In Fig. 1 the magnet-heads A A are provided with double V-shaped poles, and in Fig. 5 the pole-faces are single-V-shaped, as shown. For locomotive-motors the V-shape faces are preferably dispensed with and square pole-faces employed.

The armature or armatures are cylindrical and adapted to roll around the circular magnet-heads A A, or else the armatures stand in one position and the electro magnet and armatures revolve in contact with each other. The armature B is shown in Fig. 1 as a cylinder on a shaft in stationary bearings, and in Figs. 5 and 6 there are three revolving armatures B upon arbors I), that extend out laterally from the central wheel, 0, from which a belt or gear extends to the machine or device to be rotated.

The pole-faces of the magnet-heads are to be of the proper size and number with reference to the armature cylinder or cylinders, and the helix of such magnet is preferably to be chargedjust before the armature in its rolling movement comes into contact with such polefaces, and the current through the inside convolutions of the helix is to be stopped and then reversed through the outside convolutions as and just before the armature rolls across the center of the pole-face. This will prevent any back pull or reaction of the magnet on the armature, and the reversing of the polarity will neutralize the magnetism of the electromagnet poles, producing a momentary passive state that delivers the armature from the one pole-face and permits it to continue its movement toward the other pole-face, where the magnetic attraction is acting to promote a rapid movementof the armature as itrollsinto contact with the magnet-poles.

The magnets are to be charged by the action of a circuit-closing device that admits the electric current to the helix, and the time of making and breaking circuit is to be such that the current will pulsate as many times in each revolution of the electro-magnet or the armature around the electro-magnet as there are pairs of pole-faces. In Figs. 1 and 2 each magnet-head is represented with three polefaces, and hence there will be three pulsations in each magnet every revolution. The magnet-poles are placed so as to operate progressively, so that as the pole-faces of the magnet 1 are ceasing to act the pole-faces of the mag net 2 are coming into action. Then the polefaces of the magnet 3 come into action, and as these go out of action the pole-faces of the magnet 1 again come into action.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a circuit-closing wheel with nine insulated plates, f. The current passes from the arm 6 to one plate and to the magnet 1, and returns by the frame and the battery or generator wire 6 From the second plate f the current passes to the second magnet, and so on. It'is to be understood that these magnets, acting in succession, exert a powerful force to roll the armature around in contact with the pole-faces, and the power is constant and uniform, or nearly so, in consequence of the progressive action of the magnets.

The magnets and armature-roller will revolve in the direction shown in Fig. 3; but if the arm 9 is brought into contact with the circuit-closing wheel, instead of the arm e, the parts will revolve in the reverse direction, in consequence of the order in which the electromagnets are energized being reversed, the magnet 3 being first magnetized, then 2, then 1, and so on, instead of the reverse, as aforesaid. The arms 6 and g are upon a shaft that can be turned by a handle, g,.to bringinto action either the arm 6 or the arm 9.

A wheel is shown by dotted lines at 70, Fig. 1, to indicate that this motor may be applied to the propulson of cars by electricity; or a belt or gearing may be used to convey the power to any machine that is to be operated. In some cases it will be preferable to work this motor in a. shunt-circuit, especially when operated as a stationary engine.

The machine shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is operated the same as before described; butthe magnets are held stationary upon tubular shafts 1', supported by the frames K, and the shaft h revolves within such tubular shafts, and it carries the belt or gear wheel 0 and the studs b of the armature-rollers B, as aforesaid, and at the ends of the shaft hthere are the circuit-closin g wheels 1-, that operate a contact-spring, s, that is between two spring contact-blocks, tand M. Cases 1' (shown sectional] yin Figs. 5 and 6) should partially surround the wheels 1" to contain lubricating material. Each wheel 1" has as many teeth as there are pairs of pole-faces to each magnet, and the wheels are placed upon the shaft in such a manner that the energizing-currents areadmitted to the helices H H at the proper time, which is preferabl y just before the rolling armatures reach the pole-faces. Six

21 to the springs s, and theextreme ends of the helices H H are connected to the respective springs t u, the outside convolutions of each helix constituting the neutralizing portion of the helix.

The actions are alike in both electro-magnets. I will only describe the operations of one.

When the wheel 7' is in the position shown in Fig.6 the current passes by s to t, and thence through part of the helix to the loop-connection and to the binding-post20; thence to the battery or generator. This energizes the electro-magnets, and their pole-faces attract the revolving armatures. As soon as the rolling surfaces of the armatures in contact with the pole-faces nearly arrive at the middle of the pole-faces the turnin gof the wheel 1 causes the spring 8 to fly'ofi' the point of the tooth and instantly close contact between 8 and a. This sends acurrent through the other portion of the helix inthe opposite direction to the first-named current, as illustrated in the diagram Fig. 5, and hence the previous magnetism is neutralized instantly, and the armature-rollers, instead of being detained andthe rotary motion checked, are caused to pass freely off the polefaces and pass into the magnetic field of the next pair of pole-faces. This reverse current must be but momentary to neutralize the residual magnetism of the pole-faces. Otherwise, if prolonged, it would remagnetize the cores 0r pole-faces andattract the armature-roller. I therefore provide a projection at 30, on the spring 8, againstwhich the next tooth of racts and breaks circuit with u but the teeth of r are so shaped that the circuit is not again closed with it until the rolling armatures have nearly arrived at the edge of the next pole-faces.

It is to be understood that the pole-faces of one magnet are intermediate to those of the next, so that one is at its maximum intensity while the armature of the other is passing from one pole-face to the other. I

The tubular shafts i, being within the respective helices, are in the most intense portion of the magnetic field, and the magnet'heads and their pole-faces have their magnetism intensified by being formed with or connected to such tubular shafts forming the cores. The V shape of the pole-faces lessens the abrupt separation of the armature and pole-faces, and should there be any residual magnetism in the polefaces the effect will be lessened as the armatures roll toward the narrowest parts of'the pole-faces. y

In order to develop a given power, motors constructed as herein described require much less weight in electro-magnets, and they are operated with very much greater economy in current than has heretofore been accomplished with electromagnetic engines.

The arrangement herein described of helice and reverse circuit-connections may be employed in electric motors having cores and at matures of the ordinary character, the current being diverted through a portion of the helix in a reverse direction to neutralize the residual magnetism, as before set forth.

Rings of brass or similar non-magnetic metal introduced into peripheral grooves in the polefaces support the rolling armatures as they pass from one pole-face to the next.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with the magnet having heads and pole-faces, of a revolving armature the surface of which rolls in contact with the pole-faces and circuit-changing connections, substantially as specified, whereby reverse currents are employed to neutralize residual magnetism, substantially as specified.

2. In an electro-magnet having circular ends, the V shaped segmental pole-faces of such circular ends, in combination with the revolving cylindrical armatures, substantially as set forth.

3. In combination with the electro-magnets having circular ends and segmental pole-faces,

the springs s t u, and wheel 1', and circuit-connections, substantially as set forth.

at. In an electromagnetic engine, the helix having circuit-connections to its ends and to an intermediate loop, in combination with circuit-closin g springs and connections, substantially as set forth, whereby the residual magnetism is neutralized by a current passed in reverse direction through part of the helix, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the rolling armature and the magnet-heads with pole-faces, of the rings of brass or other non-magnetic metal surrounding the magnet-heads, substantially as specified.

Signed by me this 23d day of February, A. D. 1882.

GEO. LITTLE.

Witnesses GEO. T. PrNoKNEY, OHAs. H. SMITH. 

